Like pre Biggie, Jay-Z and Nas, it seemed like you had to start in a group to get launched (at least be down with a strong clique). The clique element is still strong, but there doesn't seem to be any new groups any more.

It's probably an economics thing but it definitely seemed that it was so hard to get put on back in the days, folks saw fit to roll up their talents to make sure they can't lose.

Think about it, would RZA, Ghostface, Method Man & ODB necessarily have blown up if they started out as individual artists? Probably not (and be for you jumped down my throat remember RZA did initially to launch as a solo artist). However, all that talent coming together for wu-tang couldn't help but win.

Same goes for so many great groups. Andre300 or Big Boi as individual artist? Hmmmmm, (I know y'all want to say yes 3000, maybe not Big Boi). De La Soul? Tribe? PE? LNOS? I love all those groups but what made them great is the balance they had from having different members to the group. In all likelihood you never would have heard of Phife, Flavor Flav, Dino, and other non-star members of groups but they did provide a value and it's a good chance that Q-tip, Busta and Chuck D might not have had Huge careers if it weren't for the other guys balancing them out.

Now think about a lot of talented artists now who aren't really blowing up like that? Think of Remedial's post about Nipsey, Gibbs, Stalley, etc. Think about how much of a better chance any of those artist would have if they came out as a group rather than individual artist?

Infact, I'd like to hear folks make suggestions for groups of young artist if they could draft their own squads.

Anyway, let's discuss it.



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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

Okayplayer's 13 Best Songs of 2013
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1oqjQg5iG0kixstemTCUgT0b8cSMNfN-

I'd love to see more bands in hip hop getting shine.

I love The Roots, but there needs to be more bands, they just can't be they only one and now that they do the late night television thing, they've kind of...I don't know the right word to describe it, but I no longer really look at them as a serious recording act. Now that I think about it, I wished I never watched the Fallon show because the comedy sketches they do is, well you know.

But yeah I agree, more groups please.

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Big PEMFin H & z's
"I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am 1 thing, a musician." © Miles

"When the music stops he falls back in the abyss."

Since 2005, they've released 7 critically acclaimed albums, and 4 of those are rap albums.

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>Since 2005, they've released 7 critically acclaimed albums,
>and 4 of those are rap albums.

I'm a huge fan but this just isn't true. Only among
questo's twitter followers and Facebook friends
would you hear praise like that.

They've been stale for a minute now unfortunately.

every album since tipping point has been a massive critical success.

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The "Black Simon & Garfunkel" and all the other skits kinda make me cringe and their music has strangely been dope and incredibad at the same time.

The extremely horrible off key singing on How I Got Over and UnDun, the collaboration albums with John Legend, Betty Wright and Elvis Costello kinda comes off as...well you know...

I love the Roots they gave us some great music. Black Thought is the greatest MC the hip hop world is a fraid to acknowledge, but as time goes on... I think "HIP HOP" is in desperate of more bands that could give The Roots some competition in the studio and on stage.

Kool & The Gang kept Earth, Wind and Fire sharp and vice versa...Just saying.

I was blown that they are now putting out some of their best music.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

Okayplayer's 13 Best Songs of 2013
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1oqjQg5iG0kixstemTCUgT0b8cSMNfN-

that's crazy talk to me.

Like I feel what you mean. But the 'supergroup' or even the 'jv group' will always lack something that an organically formed group has - shared struggle. That shared struggle facilitates them really supporting each other and fuels the greatness. Very few groups that were put together really have the chemistry to make greatness. Blackstar is the only one coming to mind... and yet....

█▆▇▅▇█▇▆▄▁▃
Big PEMFin H & z's
"I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am 1 thing, a musician." © Miles

"When the music stops he falls back in the abyss."

i know they had all intentions of eventual solo careers, but werent they down with each other before black star? i think they owned the bookstore together around the time BS dropped

Here here!

Lots of folks could ONLY shine through a group dynamic like Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, etc.

Now that I think about it.. I don't think we're going to see such an explosion until we have a year where multiple groups come out with GREAT group albums.

There are very few MC's that can hold up an entire album on their own. It's why unlike most everyone else I've never really craved for a Andre 3000 solo album. I don't think it would be better than the best Outkast albums. With someone like TDE outside of Kendrick I would much rather hear those dudes rap together as Black Hippy than individual solo albums from them. I feel the same way about Slaughterhouse with the exception of Joell. As far as duo or groups I'd like to hear I have a few in mind:

Locksmith & Mistah Fab
Corey Gunz, Joey BadA$$ & ASAP Rocky
Bishop Lamont & Dom Kennedy

That is all.

__________
YARDS

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

Okayplayer's 13 Best Songs of 2013
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1oqjQg5iG0kixstemTCUgT0b8cSMNfN-

Majors don't sign rappers that often much less groups (although Overdoz just did a deal)

So you have a small ass indie pie that has to be split amongst a ton of members. It's hard to sustain.

That said there are a ton of groups or crews out now. OF, Flatbush Zombies, Overdoz, Save Money Crew, Slaughterhouse, Underachievers, ADd+, Step Bros, Pro Era, ASAP, Cool Kids are back out and errr i'm sure a bunch more.

Double 0
DJ/Producer/Artist
Producer in Kidz In The Hall
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twitter: @godouble0
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